#229 : November 2011

News Doorpost What’s on around Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Angela Tilby - Why the recssion should not stop us singing salvationsongs. PAGE 19 ONLINE God in the Life of Spotlight on Family Humour and the Gospel For more information see www.oxcat.org.uk PAGE 6 Reporting from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire &amp; Oxfordshire www.oxford.anglican.org November 2011 No. 229 An actress from Oxford Student Union poses in a cage during the ‘auction’.

Bucks children sing at Christ
Church - page seven
Reporting from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire www.oxford.anglican.org
November 2011 No. 229
Flashmob against trafficking
LUNCH-time shoppers in Oxford
were shocked to see girls in cages,
apparently being ‘auctioned off’
to passers-by. They were even
more startled when members of
the crowd donned blindfolds and
froze on the spot for five minutes.
The flashmob was held to raise
awareness on Tuesday, October
18th, the UK’s Anti Slavery Day
and the EU’s Anti-Trafficking
Day. The message was ‘don’t be
blind to trafficking’ and the
event was organised by Oxford
Community Against Trafficking,
(OXCAT), a group set up by
members of local churches who
want to open the public’s eyes to
this modern day slavery.
In Oxford, two men were
recently jailed for sex trafficking
offences and OXCAT is working
with Thames Valley Police and
other agencies, as part of its
campaign.
Esther Davison, of OXCAT,
said: “We wanted to organise a
provocative event which would
open the public’s eyes to what is
going on in many British cities
like Oxford.
“Open Your Eyes is the slogan
precisely because trafficking is
usually out of sight and out of
mind. That’s why the flash mob
were wearing blindfolds: to
emphasise that we go round with
our eyes shut, oblivious to the
possibility that an ordinary
house could be a prison for
modern-day slaves. Also we like
to believe that prostitutes are
selling sex because they want to.
But that isn’t always the case.
Behind the smile, there may be a
Inside:
News
Michael Gove MP at
Church School opening
PAGE 3
Spotlight on
Humour and the Gospel
PAGE 6
Family
Win some Meaningful
Chocolate goodies
PAGE 7
An actress from Oxford Student Union poses in a cage during the ‘auction’.
Photo: John Cairns. www.johncairnsphotography.co.uk
girl who has been tricked into
leaving her country and is here
under the control of a ruthless
criminal who is making a
fortune out of her. That’s why we
put
girls
in
cages
on
Cornmarket. This is what slavery
looks like in Britain now, and
we’re here to say it is completely
unacceptable. It has to stop.”
Owen Gallacher, also of
OXCAT and a member of St
Aldate’s Church said: “Watch
out for the tell-tale signs. If you
see young girls, maybe from
Eastern Europe, always being
driven around by older men and
never out on their own, ask
yourself why.
“Call the police or inform
Crimestoppers.
Community
awareness is one thing that can
actually stop trafficking. If
everyone opened their eyes, we
could prevent it. But there’s
something else. It’s the sex trade
in our country which helps to
drive the trafficking in human
beings. If we are part of that
market ourselves, then we are
helping to create the demand
for trafficked girls.”
Catherine Bearder, MEP for
South East England, said: “Most
people don’t realise the scale of
human trafficking in this
country. The UK is the biggest
market for trafficked victims in
Europe. The police officers and
human trafficking charities I
speak to always stress how
important active community
engagement is in the fight
against trafficking.”
ONLINE
@
For more information see
www.oxcat.org.uk
Doorpost
What’s on around
Oxfordshire, Berkshire and
Buckinghamshire
Comment
Angela Tilby - Why the
recssion should not stop
us singing salvation songs.
PAGE 19
God in the Life of
The Revd David Gifford
PAGE 20